Jackie
Bradley
OF
/ South Carolina
Bats-Throws: L-R
Height/Weight: 5-11/180
Hometown: Prince
George, Va.
Previously
Drafted: Never drafted
Birthdate: April
19, 1990
SCOUTING
PROFILE: Bradley was undrafted and largely overlooked by colleges
out of a Virginia high school three years ago, but
had become a no-brainer first-round talent by his junior year at
South Carolina before a nagging wrist injury led to a subpar 2011
season. He finally had surgery in late April to repair a damaged
ligament, but was lost for the balance of the season. It’s unclear
now where Bradley stands from a draft standpoint, but it appears his
injury has cost him a shot at going in the first round, with the
supplemental first-round a logical destination. Bradley was
injury-prone throughout his career at South Carolina. He had a rib
removed on his right side in the fall of his freshman year and broke
the hamate bone in his right hand in spring practice, just before
start of the 2010 season. Both of his previous injuries did not
impact his performance for the Gamecocks as he had fine seasons as
both a freshman and sophomore. Bradley was the centerpiece of
South Carolina’s 2010 national-championship team. He earned Most
Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series, and hit
.368-13-60 on the season overall. He then excelled last summer with
Team USA’s college-national team (.318-1-12), all but solidifying
himself as a top selection in the 2011 draft. Despite his modest
5-foot-11, 180-pound frame, Bradley has legitimate five-tool talent.
He generates good bat speed from the left side, and projects to be an
above-average hitter with average power. He generally takes a big,
aggressive hack and most of his home-run pop is to the pull side, but
Bradley is also capable of shortening his swing, enabling him to
drive balls to all fields. It’s on defense that Bradley truly
excels, and he has become an elite-level center field with a strong,
accurate arm. Bradley's speed grades out as slightly above-average,
but he maximizes it with his superior base-running instincts and by
getting excellent jumps on balls in the outfield. The
defending national champion Gamecocks actually lost their two best
position prospects for this year’s draft to season-ending injuries,
as right fielder Adam Matthews was lost, in addition to Bradley.
Matthews, the fastest player on the Gamecocks roster, was shut down
after he aggravated a sore hamstring a week before Bradley’s season
ended.
Projected
Draft Position: Sandwich round.
Perfect
Game Events Attended
2006 WWBA 17U/07 Grad. National Championship
2006 WWBA 18U/06 Grad. National Championship
2006 WWBA World Championship
2007 WWBA 2007 Grads or 18u National Championship
2007 WWBA 2008 Grads or 17u National Championship
2007 WWBA World Championship
2008 National Pre Draft Showcase
2008 WWBA 2008 Grads or 18u National Championship